Stallion-shield



A. F. RUTHVEN.

STALLION SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20. I918.

Patented Sept. 1919.

ALBERT F. RUTHVEN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

STALLION-SHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Application filed February 20, 1918. Serial No. 218,237.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT F. RUrnvEN, citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stallion- Shields, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stallion shields. The object of the invention is to provide an improved shield which effectively discourages excitation or erection, which is cleanly and sanitary, which is easily applied and adjusted, and which is not injured and will not injure the stallion when lying down. Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view, illustrating the shield and its harness in position on the stallion; Fig. 2 is a broken out plan of the shield in folded position and Fig. 3- is a longitudinal section thereof, showing the shield extended in operative position.

Referring first to Figs. 2 and 3, the shield comprises a suitable flat body portion 1 which lies in horizontal position when on the stallion, and which is supported by a suitable harness as hereafter described. This body portion may be made of any suitable material having requisite strength, but preferably is so constructed as to be sanitary and to prevent the collection of dirt and filth. In the drawings the body portion 1 is a border or frame consisting of sheet metal bars or members 2 which may be formed from a plate and are'therefore continuous around the entire body, or which may consist of separate pieces rigidly secured to each other at the angles of the frame. This frame 2 is preferably covered to prevent injury to the stallion such as by the jacket 3 made of leather or other suitable material. Frame 2 serves to support the open mesh screen 4 made for example of large mesh heavy galvanized wire screen, the openings in which allow free passage of urine. The body portion 1 with its screened floor is made wide enough to prevent any possible escape of the stallions part downwardly or laterally, as a consequence of which any extension by the stallion will cause engagement with the guard 5 at the front portion of the horizontal body. The

back portion of the body may be tapered, as ghown in Fig. 2, to fit better between the egs.

The guard 5 may be made of any suitable material, for example, metal, although in the particular form shown in the drawings it is made of one or more plies of leather, the inner or rear surface thereof being provided with a series of spaced points or projections which may be either sharp or blunt as desired. These points or projections for example may be former by tacks whose heads lie between the leather plies of the guard 5. The normal position of the guard 5 when on the stallion is shown in Fig. 3, in which position any extension or erection by the stallion meets with the deterring effect of the projections 6 and thereby effectively discourages excitation or erection and pos sible resulting loss of strength and vitality.

The guard 5 is preferably connected to the body portion 1 so as to be capable of being tilted relatively thereto or of folding down into superposed or parallel relation therewith. This may be accomplished by a suitable hinge joint between the guard and body portion or the guard may be attached to the body portion by thongs or lacing members 7, the yield in which and the flexibility of the guard 5 enable it to be folded out or extended to the operative position in Fig. 3.

The shield is supported on the stallion by any suitable harness, that shown in the drawings consisting of a neck strap 10 adjustable as to length, a belly strap 11 having an elastic portion 12 attached to the front edge of the body portion 1, a back strap 13 connecting the neck strap 10 to the back pad 14, a erupper or tail strap 15 connected at one or several points to the rear edge of the 'body portion 1, and two side supports 16 extending from the back pad 14 to the side edges of the body portion and guard. Preferably the side supports 16 have two or more branches 17 connected to the side edges of the body portion and a third branch 18, preferably elastic, connected to the upper side edges of the guard 5. All straps may be adjustable as to length by the provision of suitable buckles or other devices as is usual.

When the shield is adjusted on the stallion, as indicated in Fig. 1, the guard 5 is extended to an inclined relation with the base 1, forming an open pocket or recess 20 of considerable lateral extentso as to with certainty receive and offer resistance't'o' any extension by the stallion. The'screened'bot the meshes of the screen a and thereforebering protected or coverediip. Theyalsoextend away from thebody of the stallion and consequently will 'notinjure him. Furthermore the Hat form of the shield prevents it from being crushed when the animal lies down. The shield is very effectiveand is also cleanly and sanitary.

What I claim is:

1. A stallion shield, comprising a foraminous body portion, a guard connected to' the front edge thereof and capable of being tilted relatively thereto or folded intoparallel relation therewith, and meansfor support- .ing said shield on the stallion with said guard extending upwardly from the body portion.

'2. A stallion shield, comprising a foraminous body portion, a guard connected to thefroht edge thereof and capable of being tilted relatively thereto or folded into parallel relation therewith, means for supportingsaid shield on the stallion with said guard extending upwardly from the body portio'11,and a series of spaced projections allelrelationtherewith, and'a suitable harness for supporting, said shield upon the stallion with the guard extending upwardly from the body portion and-including straps connectedto the'side edges of the body por tion and guard. o I

4:. Al stall-ion shield, comprising a fiat body portion having a rigid frame and-a foraminous body portion, a guard attached to the frontedge of said frame and extending upwardly therefrom an'd'capable of being' tilted relatively thereto orrfolde'd into parallel relation therewith, a series of projeQtions-upon the rear face of said guard, supporting straps attached to the side-"edges of said body portion, and flexible supporting straps attachedlto the upper side edges of said guard.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALBERT F. 'RUTHVEN.

Copies of this patent mav be'obtained for five'cents ea'ch,-by addressing the commissionerarratents,

Washington, I). 0; 

